Fountain control system

Abstract

In a reservoir for use in treating a solution fed thereto, the improvement comprising: an overflow system, said system including: an overflow stand-pipe in the reservoir for use in skimming solution in the reservoir and removing the same therefrom; and a sensor in the reservoir for use in detecting the solution level in the reservoir and for controlling the introduction of further solution into the reservoir, thereby to control the amount of solution skimmed into the stand-pipe. In a proportioner for use in metering and dispensing specified proportions of additives, for example into a solution, the proportioner including conduit apparatus for receiving and mixing at least two solution feed supplies fed thereto, the improvement comprising: a metering pump connected to a selected one of said solution feed supplies, for metering the flow therefrom. A method of treating, including cleaning, the fountain solution of the units of printing presses while the presses are in operation including where inks of different colors are used on respective units of the presses, comprising the steps of: feeding solution to be treated from the presses and respective units thereof to a single reservoir having a stand-pipe overflow drain; and controlling the level of solution in the reservoir so as to skim-off solution containing the matter to be removed from the solution to be treated, while recirculating solution to the presses, by controllably replenishing proportioned solution in the reservoir, the proportioned solution being provided by the method as defined above.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a reservoir for use in treating a solution fed thereto, the improvement comprising said reservoir being a printing press fountain solution distribution reservoir, an overflow system for treating a fountain solution including cleaning the same before it is returned to a printing press; said overflow system including an overflow stand-pipe in the reservoir for use in skimming solution in the reservoir and removing the same therefrom, and a sensor of the ultrasonic type in said reservoir for use in detecting the solution level in the reservoir and for controlling the introduction of further solution into the reservoir, thereby to control the amount of solution skimmed into the stand-pipe; thermostatically controlled solution cooling means, a proportioner interconnected to said reservoir for dispensing a proportioned solution into said reservoir and further including an adjustable timer, said proportioner including conduit means for receiving and mixing at least two solution feed supplies fed thereto and including a metering pump connected to a selected one of said solution feed supplies for metering the flow therefrom, said pump being connected directly to said conduit means and including a vernier type control for metering the flow of solution therethrough for mixing with the other of said solutions, said metered solution being a reagent and the other solution being water, and said porportioner including a flow regulator for regulating the flow of said water, said reservoir and proportioner being arranged such that when the level of solution in said reservoir drops below a selected point, said sensor causes said water to commence flowing through said flow regulator and said metering pump to start operating for dispensing mixed solution into said reservoir and as the level of solution in said reservoir rises, said adjustable timer being activated and subsequently deactivated following a selected period of time, thereby to halt said water flow and stop operation of said metering pump and provide that a selected amount of solution is skimmed into said stand-pipe, said selected period of time controlling the amount of solution skimmed into said stand-pipe, thus to remove foreign matter from the reservoir solution for cleaning the same. 
     
     
       2. A reservoir and proportioner combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the same is interconnected to the fountain of at least one printing unit of a printing press, said interconnection providing for the cleaning of the fountain solution. 
     
     
       3. A reservoir and proportioner combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the same is interconnected to the fountains of a plurality of printing units of a printing press for use in cleaning the fountain solution used by the respective units and wherein the respective units use different colored printing inks, one to another. 
     
     
       4. A reservoir and proportioner combination as defined in claim 3 wherein the same is interconnected to the fountains of a plurality of printing units of a plurality of printing presses for use in cleaning the fountain solution used by the respective units and wherein each unit of a respective press is using a different color printing ink, one to another, thereby to provide a centralized solution cleaning device and a centralized proportioner for a plurality of said presses.